Multiple-stack cup magazine



Oct. 18, 1966 s. A. MAXWELL 3,279,650 MULTIPLE-STACK CUP MAGAZINE Filed Aug. 24, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 1 yoa z m Oct. 18, 1966 s. A. MAXWELL MULTIPLE-STACK CUP MAGAZINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 24. 1964 Oct. 18, 1966- s. A. MAXWELL 3,279,650

MULTIPLE-STACK CUP MAGAZ INE Filed Aug. 24, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.5

lyre: 0 re A.

3,279,650 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 United States Patent Oflice 3,279,650 MULTIPLE-STACK CUP MAGAZINE Stewart Alfred Maxwell, Walsall, England, assignor to Fisher & Ludlow Limited, Birmingham, England, a British company Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,659 Claims priority, application Great Britain, July 19, 1962, 27,685/ 62; July 11,1964, 29,191/ 64 Claims. (Cl. 221-11) This is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 295,553, filed July 16, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to cup holders for use in coin freed beverage dispensing machines from which cups are withdrawn to be filled with the beverage to be dispensed and is concerned wtih cup holders of the kind which include a delivery compartment for a stack of cups, a pair of storage compartments, one on either side of the delivery compartment, a platform pivotally disposed in each storage compartment for supporting a stack of cups and a stack of nested cups in the delivery compartment and in each of the storage compartments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of cup holder of the above kind which includes improved means for transferring a stack of cups from the storage compartments when the uppermost cup in the delivery compartment reaches a predetermined level.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a cup holder with the door thereof open,

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the lower part of the cup holder,

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic representation of part of the electrical circuit of the beverage dispensing machine,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 5 illustrating the means for reciprocating the actuator bar,

FIGURE 5 is a detail showing the means for reciprocating the actuator bar,

FIGURE 6 is a detail view showing the lower half of the cup holder when the stacks of cups in both storage compartments have been transferred to the delivery compartment, and

FIGURE 7 is a detail showing the actuator bar.

The cup holder includes a magazine 10 which can be considered as being divided into three compartments, a central delivery compartment from which the lowermost cup of the stack is adapted to be removed by a cup dispenser 12 upon each vending operation of the machine and a pair of storage compartments, one on either side of the delivery compartment, each of which is adapted to receive a stack of cups.'

The magazine 10 has a pivoted front door 14, a base 16, a top 18, a pair of side walls 20 and 22 and a back wall 24. The base 16 extends beyond the side walls 20 and 22 both at the front and at the back of the magazine 10 and is provided with brackets 26 and 28 for securing the magazine 10 to the inside of the door of the vending machine.

Each storage compartment contains a platform 30 and 32 on which the stack of cups is to be supported, the platforms being pivotally mounted upon pivot pins 34 and 36 which are disposed close to each side wall 20 and 22 and which are supported in extensions 38 and 40 of the side walls 20 and 22 and in the back wall 24.

Each platform 30, 32 includes, at the end thereof opposite the pivot pin 34 or 36 a spindle 42 or 44 which projects through a vertically extending slot 46 or 48 in the back wall 24 of the magazine 10. The spindles 42 and 44 engage ledge formations 50 on a horizontal reciprocable actuator bar 52 disposed behind the back wall 24 of the magazine 10 to hold the platforms 30 and 32 in horizontal positions.

The magazine 10 contains three stacks of cups, one on each platform 30 and 32 and one supported by the cup dispenser 12. The platforms 30 and 32 are tilted in turn when the uppermost cup in the central stack reaches a predetermined level, i.e. when approximately eight cups remain in the delivery compartment. The stack of cups on each platform 30 and 32 is prevented from toppling prematurely by the provision of V-shaped guides 54 and 56 which extend from the top 18 of the magazine 10. To assist in moving the cups from each platform 30 and 32 upon pivotal movement thereof an upstanding arm 58 or 60, having a gripping portion 62, 64 which extends through a slot 66, 68 in the side walls 20 and 22 of the magazine, is secured at right angles to the platform 30 or 32 at the edge thereof adjacent the pivot pin 34 or 36. A helical spring 70 or 72 extends between each platform 30 and 32 and the adjacent side wall 20 or 22 of the magazine 10 to assist in downward pivotal movement of the platforms 30 and 32.

The lower end of the central delivery compartment includes an enclosure 74 having generally vertical walls 76, the upper poritons 78 of which are outwardly inclined to facilitate the movement of a stack of cups from one of the platforms 30 or 32 so that the lowermost cup in that stack will enter the uppermost cup in the enclosure 74.

The actuator bar 52 is mainly of channel-section, one end portion 80, however, is flat and the extreme end is bent over to provide a projection 82. The channel-section is formed with four pressed out flaps 84, 86, 88 and 90 as can be most clearly seen in FIGURE 7; three are pressed out in one direction and one pressed out in the other direction. The actuator bar 52 is supported in a pair of brackets 92 and 94 which are secured to the rear wall 24 of the magazine and a helical tension spring 96 is disposed between one of the supporting brackets 94 and the flap 90 which extends in the opposite direction to the others. Two of the remaining flaps 84 and 86 are disposed adjacent one another, one 84 being disposed slightly above and to one side of the other 86. The higher flap 84 includes a ledge formation 50a and a short upstanding wall 98 whereas the lower flap 86 includes only a ledge formation 5%. These two flaps 84 and 86 are disposed adjacent the bracket 94 to which the helical tension spring 96 is secured and the upstanding wall 98 on flap 84 is disposed on the side of the ledge formation 50a nearest the associated side wall 20 of the magazine 10.

The remaining flap 88 is disposed nearer the other side wall 22 and includes a ledge formation 50c and an upstanding wall 100, the wall 100 being again on the side of the ledge formation 50c nearest the adjacent side wall 22.

When both storage compartments contain a stack of cups the platforms 30 and 32 are supported by the spindles 42 and 44 resting on the ledge formations 50a and 50c with the actuator bar 52 urged to one side by the spring 96. The distance by which the actuator bar 52 is urged by the spring 96 is, however, limited by engagement of the spindle 44 on platform 32 with the upstanding wall 100 of flap 88. To transfer the stack of cups from platform 32 into the delivery compartment the actuator bar 52 is moved against the action of the spring 96 so that the spindle 44 falls off its ledge formation 50c and the spindle 42 on the other platform 30 moves into engagement with the upstanding wall 98 on its ledge formation 50a. When the force moving the actuator bar 52 is removed the spring 96 returns the actuator bar 52 towards is original position but the distance by which the spring 96. can move the actuator bar is no longer limited by engagement of spindle 44 with the upstanding wall 100 of flap 88 and thus the actuator bar 52 is moved beyond its original position so that the spindle 42 of platform 30 drops from the higher ledge 50a onto the lower ledge 50b. If now the actuator bar 52 is again moved against the action of the spring 96 the other platform 30 will fall as its spindle 42 will then drop from its ledge 50b when the v actuator bar 52 is moved.

The means for efiecting reciprocal movement of the actuator bar 52 to permit pivotal movement of one of the platforms 30 and 32 includes a striker 102 which forms the contact of a microswitch 104 which is secured to a bracket 106 disposed behind the back wall of the magazine 10. The striker 102 projects through a slot 108 in the back wall 24 and is spring urged into engagement with the stack of cups 110 in the delivery compartment. When the uppermost cup in the delivery compartment falls below the level of the striker 102 the striker moves forwardly under the action of its spring and operates the micro-switch to close a contact 112 in the path to an electric motor 114 which is mounted upon a plate 116 secured to the side wall 22 of the magazine 10. The electric motor 114 drives a cam disc 118 which has a projecting peg 120 which engages the projection 82 on the end of the actuator bar 52 to effect reciprocation of the actuator bar 52. The disc 118 is formed with a peripheral generally semi-circular recess 122 as can be seen in FIGURE and in the idle position of the disc 118 the contact 124 of a motor holding switch 126 is located in this recess. When the disc 118 is turned from its idle position the contact 124 is closed so as to ensure that the motor 114 continues to run until the actuator bar 52 has performed at least one reciprocation. When the disc 118 is in the idle position and with a stack of cups on each platform the peg 120 is spaced from the projection 82 on the end of the actuator bar 52 so that there is, in this case, a dwell between actuation of the motor 114 and commencement of movement of the actuator bar 52. When the actuator bar 52 has been reciprocated once to effect tilting of one platform the spring 96 will move the actuator bar 52 into a position in which the projection 82 engages the peg 120.

If there are no cups in one of the storage compartments and the platform 32 of this storage compartment is tilted first then the striker 102 will remain in its operative positon and the motor 114 will continue to run to effect a second revolution of the cam disc 118 and a second reciprocation of the actuator bar 52. A micro-switch 128 is disposed beneath the platform 30 which is the second to be tilted and this micro-switch 128 is actuated upon tilting of the platform 30 to open a contact 130 in the electric supply path of the motor 114 so that the motor is switched off after the second platform 30 has been tilted.

A second micro-switch 132 is secured to the bracket 106 disposed behind the back wall 24 of the magazine to which micro-switch 104 is secured. This second microswitch 132 has a striker 134 which projects through a slot 108 in the back wall 24 of the magazine at a lower level than striker 102. actuated when the uppermost cup in the delivery compartment falls below the level of its striker 134 and when actuated operates an empty switch 136 to de-energise the solenoid of a blocking relay 138 and to light a sold out" lamp 140 so that the armature of the relay 138 .is pro jected into the coin path of the machine to prevent the acceptance of any further coinage by the machine so that the coin operated mechanism 142 which prepares the circuit of the electric motor 114 for operation cannot be actuated when the striker 134 of the second micro-switch 132 has moved forwards to operate the empty switch 136.

This second micro-switch 132 is To reset the platforms 30 and 32 after use the actuator bar 52 is pushed to the right (as seen in FIGUREZ) against the action of the spring 96 to a sufficient extent for the ledge formations 50a, 50b, and 50c to be clear of the paths of the spindles 42 and 44. The two platforms.30 and 32 are then raised simultaneously to their fullest extent and the actuator bar 52 is released. In order to permit the required degree of movement necesary for resetting the actuator bar, the bar 52 is moved further-than during normal operation. The platforms 30 and 32 cannot be reset by pushing the actuator bar 52 to the right,

raising platform 30, releasing the actuator bar 52 and then repeating this operation for platform 32 since the spindle 42 of platform 30 will bedisengaged from its ledge formation 500 when the bar 52 is pushedto the right for the.

second time. The upstanding wall 98 of ledge formation 50a prevents wrong resetting of the platforms 30 and 32 as the actuator bar 52 cannot be moved to the right (as seen in FIGURE 2) 'once the spindle 42 of platform 30 has been placed on the ledge formation 50a.

What I then claim is:

1. A cup holder which includes a magazine having a delivery compartment, a first storage compartment at one. side of the delivery compartment and a second storage compartment at the other side of the delivery compartment, a pivotally mounted platform in each of said storage compartments, a stack of nested cups on each of saidplatforms and in the delivery compartment, a spindle carried by each platform, an actuator bar reciprocable in a horizontal direction, driving means for effecting reciprocation of said actuator bar, a first support-'means on said actua ator bar for supporting the spindle of the platformin said first storage compartment, a second support means on said actuator bar for supporting the spindle of the platform in said second storage compartment and release means rendered operative when the uppermost cup in the delivery compartment reachesa predetermined level for actuating said driving means to reciprocate the actuator bar whereby said first supportmeansis moved away from the'spindle of the platform in the first storage compartment and said platform pivots to transfer the stack of cups supported thereby into the delivery compartment, said releasemeans. being again rendered operative when the uppermost cup in the delivery compartment again reaches said predetermined level to actuate said driving means which reciprocates the actuator bar whereby said second supportmeans is moved away from the spindle of the platform in the sec-. ond storage compartment and said platform pivots to transfer the stack of cups supported thereby into the delivery compartment.

2. A cup holder which includes a magazine having a delivery compartment, a first storage compartment at onev side of the delivery compartment and a second storage compartment at the other side of the delivery compartment, a pivotally mounted platform in each of said storage compartments, a stack of nested cups on each of said platforms and in the delivery compartment, a spindle carried by each platform, an actuator bar reciprocable in a horizontal direction, driving means for efiecting reciprocation of said actuator bar, a first ledge formation onsaid actuator bar on which the spindle of the platform in the first storage compartment normally rests, a second ledge for-' mation on said actuator bar on which the spindle of the platform in said second storage compartment normally rests and a third ledge formation on said actuator bar disposed below and adjacent said second ledge formation and release means rendered operative when the uppermost cup in the delivery compartment reaches a predetermined level for actuating said driving means to reciprocate the actuator bar whereby said first ledge formation is moved away from the spindle of the platform in the first storage compartment and said platform pivots to transfer the stack of cups supported thereby into the delivery compartment and, upon return movement of the actuator bar, t e p le Of the platform in said second storage compartment is no longer supported on said second ledge formation and drops onto the third ledge formation, the release means being again rendered operative when the uppermost cup in the delivery compartment again reaches said predetermined level to actuate said driving means which reciprocates the actuator bar whereby the third ledge formation is moved away from the spindle of the platform in the second storage compartment so that said platform pivots to transfer the stack of cups supported thereby into the delivery compartment.

3. A cup holder which includes a magazine having a delivery compartment and first and second storage compartments one on either side of the delivery compartment, a pivotable platform in each storage compartment for supporting a stack of nested cups, a spindle carried by each platform, an actuator bar which is reciprocated in a horizontal direction on actuation of an electric motor by engagement between a peg on a disc driven by the motor and a projection on the actuator bar, a first ledge formation on the actuator bar which normally supports the spindle of the platform in the first storage compartment, a second ledge formation on said actuator bar which normally supports the spindle of the platform in the second storage compartment, a third ledge formation on said actuator bar disposed below and adjacent said second ledge formation, spring means acting between a bracket on the magazine and the actuator bar, release means rendered operative when the uppermost cup in the delivery compartment reaches a predetermined level for effecting actuation of the motor to cause reciprocation of the actuator bar so that the spindle of the platform in the first storage compartment is no longer supported by the first ledge formation and tilts to transfer its stack of nested cups into the delivery compartment and, upon return movement of the actuator bar, the spindle of the platform in the second storage compartment is no longer supported by the second ledge formation but drops onto the third ledge formation, the release means being again rendered operative when the uppermost cup in the delivery compartment again reaches said predetermined level to actuate the motor and cause a second reciprocation of the actuator bar so that the spindle of the platform in the second storage compartment is no longer supported by the third ledge formation and the platform tilts to transfer the stack of nested cups supported thereby into the delivery compartment.

4. A cup holder as claimed in claim 3 in which the first ledge formation includes an upstanding wall which is arranged to abut the spindle of the platform in the first delivery compartment in the initial condition of the cup holder to limit the extent of movement of the actuator bar under the action of the spring means.

5. A cup holder as claimed in claim 4 in which the extent of movement of the actuator bar under the action of the spring means is, after the platform in the first storage compartment has been tilted and the spindle of the platform in the second storage compartment has dropped onto the third ledge formation, limited by abutment of the projection on the actuator bar with the peg on the disc.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1950 Holinger 221-104 1/1959 Booth et al 221-11 FOREIGN PATENTS 99,491 10/ 1961 Netherlands. 

1. A CUP HOLDER WHICH INCLUDES A MAGAZINE HAVING A DELIVERY COMPARTMENT, A FIRST STORAGE COMPARTMENT AT ONE SIDE OF THE DELIVERY COMPARTMENT AND A SECOND STORAGE COMPARTMENT AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DELIVERY COMPARTMENT, A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED PLATFORM IN EACH OF SAID STORAGE COMPARTMENTS, A STACK OF NESTED CUPS ON EACH OF SAID PLATFORMS AND IN THE DELIVERY COMPARTMENT, A SPINDLE CARRIED BY EACH PLATFORM, AN ACTUATOR BAR RECIPROCABLE IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION, DRIVING MEANS FOR EFFECTING RECIPROCATION OF SAID ACTUATOR BAR, A FIRST SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID ACTUATOR BAR FOR SUPPORTING THE SPINDLE OF THE PLATFORM IN SAID FIRST STORAGE COMPARTMENT, A SECOND SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID ACTUATOR BAR FOR SUPPORTING THE SPINDLE OF THE PLATFORM IN SAID SECOND STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND RELEASE MEANS RENDERED OPERATIVE WHEN THE UPPERMOST CUP IN THE DELIVERY COMPARTMENT REACHES A PREDETERMINED LEVEL FOR ACTUATING SAID DRIVING MEANS TO RECIPROCATE THE ACTUATOR BAR WHEREBY SAID FIRST SUPPORT MEANS IS MOVED AWAY FROM THE SPINDLE OF THE PLATFORM IN THE FIRST STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND SAID PLATFORM PIVOTS TO TRANSFER THE STACK OF CUPS SUPPORTED THEREBY INTO THE DELIVERY COMPARTMENT, SAID RELEASE MEANS BEING AGAIN RENDERED OPERATIVE WHEN THE UPPERMOST CUP IN THE DELIVERY COMPARTMENT AGAIN REACHES SAID PREDETERMINED LEVEL TO ACTUATE SAID DRIVING MEANS WHICH RECIPROCATES THE ACTUATOR BAR WHEREBY SAID SECOND SUPPORT MEANS IS MOVED AWAY FROM THE SPINDLE OF THE PLATFORM IN THE SECOND STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND SAID PLATFORM PIVOTS TO TRANSFER THE STACK OF CUPS SUPPORTED THEREBY INTO THE DELIVERY COMPARTMENT. 